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From Youth to Senior in less than a year

Inspiration to former team mates watching FA Women’s Super League action from the stands

Imagine the moment when your former team mates come to Huish Park to watch you in action.

Well thats exactly what happened to Megan Robinson a week ago, when the Somerset FA Advanced Coaching Centre players were in the crowd at Huish Park, as Yeovil Town Ladies FC hosted Chelsea Ladies.

Robinson, who is aged 17, was introduced to the pitch in the 82nd minute, replacing Leah Burridge, a former Somerset FA Centre of Excellence player, in the process. Playing against the likes of Fran Kirby, Eni Aluko and Karen Carney, Robinson was making her second top flight appearance, with her first made against Arsenal Ladies ten days earlier, which saw her in a left wing position, with Arsenal’s Alex Scott as the oppositions defending right back at Boreham Wood.

Almost 50 girls from the Somerset FA Advanced Coaching Centre were in attendance for the fixture against Chelsea at Huish Park and they watched in ore, as Robinson inspired her former team mates to try to follow in her footsteps.

For many of those girls, Robinson would have been a familiar face, as she has been at the Centre for over 8 years, with many of the current U16 age group, being players who she would have trained with on a weekly basis last year. Robinson attended the Centre, whilst also playing through the youth teams at Yeovil Town, as well as being a member of the Regional South West Centre of Excellence.

Fast forward in time to just under 12 months since Robinson was also an Advanced Coaching Centre player, she has now been studying her academic course at Bridgwater and Taunton College, whilst also playing regularly for Yeovil in the FA WSL Development Squad, along with representing the college in the highest ECFA Category One Elite League.

Training in excess of 15 hours per week, whilst also keeping on track for some high achieving qualifications academically, Robinson has been one of many developing players, who are being given opportunities at the highest of levels in the FA Women’s Super League One.

Speaking about her recent appearances, Robinson said “No words can adequately describe how it felt playing with and against some of the best teams and female football players in the country. Of course I was nervous, but also determined to do my best and work my hardest for the team.

“I have worked and trained extremely hard to get to this point in my football career and was overwhelmed that I was given this opportunity. If anything it has made me more determined to prove to the coaches that I am able to compete at this level of football”

When asked what it felt like to play in front of her former team mates, Robinson commented “Hearing their cheers brought back the amazing memories I made with my former teammates training and playing for Somerset ACC. These memories of my youth career encouraged me as I walked on the pitch, by reminding me of just how far I had come.”

Robinson added “The partnership between the college and the club has been outstanding, as I receive quality training each week as well as playing one or sometimes two high level games each week.

“In addition, my academic course is timetabled efficiently and effectively around our football schedules, which allows me time to complete my work and assignments.”

Find out more about studying and playing at Bridgwater and Taunton College, and combining this with your football, by emailing talent@yeoviltownladies.com